HRC "Memorial" report search in Grozny office

Today, policemen have searched the Grozny office of the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial". In the course thereof, an ashtray and cigarettes were found, which were not in the office before that, rights defenders assert.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that within the last three days, on January 16-18, Chechen policemen demanded twice to open the Grozny office, but left as rights defenders failed to appear.

Today, once again, after talking with the hostess of the apartment, where the office of the HRC "Memorial" is located, policemen went upstairs and began searching the office. At that time, one "Memorial" employee was there.

"Despite the fact that there were no complaints against the employees of the investigating group, who conducted the search (they behaved correctly and conducted the search in the presence of witnesses), serious doubts arose about the origin of certain items they found there," says the statement of the HRC "Memorial" received today by the "Caucasian Knot".

The statement says that during the search policemen found two cigarettes and a "cut-off can of an energy drink with some ash contained in it" on the balcony floor. However, according to the statement, none of the employees of the Grozny "Memorial" office is smoking.

"Most likely, the cigarette butts have interested investigators in connection with the marijuana, allegedly found on Oyub Titiev. In this regard, the appearance of exhibits of unknown origin in the case is causing concern," says the statement of the HRC "Memorial".

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.